"A FEW CHOICE WORDS"

"It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you." —John 15:16
"Make known to us which of these two You choose." —Acts 1:24

Many of you have saved from abortion hundreds and thousands of babies in the womb. Thank God for your love, work, and prayers! Are you pro-choice?

This seems like a crazy question to ask strong pro-lifers. However, many pro-lifers wrongly advocate "choice" in situations other than abortion. For example, the whole Christian life is more a matter of being chosen rather than choosing (see Jn 15:16). Jesus said: "I solemnly assure you, the Son cannot do anything by Himself — He can do only what He sees the Father doing" (Jn 5:19). God the Father has chosen our actions before we do them (see Eph 2:10). Our job is not primarily to choose but to obey. Jesus said: "I have not spoken on My own; no, the Father Who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to speak" (Jn 12:49). When we speak a "few chosen words," we should not be doing the choosing; rather, we allow the Holy Spirit to choose what to say through us (see Lk 12:12).

Obviously, we have some choices to make. Our main choice is to choose not to be pro-choice but pro-obedience, pro-God, and pro-life. The Lord says: "I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life" (Dt 30:19).

Prayer: Father, by this Pentecost novena, make me a Matthias who leads the Church and prepares her for a new Pentecost.

Promise: "The command I give you is this, that you love one another." —Jn 15:17

Praise: Because of St. Matthias we know of the vital importance, from the beginning, of apostolic succession.

Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from April 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016.†Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 6, 2015.

The Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.